Lamp for automobiles



y 1,624,842. APr11 12 1927' w. c. MATTHEWS Y LAMB FOR AUTVOMOMLES Filed Sent. 19'. 1925 d Qwmmto@ Wow-mfffmm @5% d Mol/W 1% Patented Apr. 12, 1927..

WILLIAM CARL MATTHEWS, F PALATKA, FLORIDA.

' LAMP FOB. AUTOMOBILES.

' Application led September As is well known a veryv serious problem, which as far as I know has not been satisfactorily solved, is the provision of a lamp for automobiles which while giving adequate illumination or lighting of the road or street will "not blind drivers of approaching automobiles. The object'of my invention is to provide a lamp which will give all the necessary illumination of the roadway, but will not have the effect just stated above, and a further object is to provide such a lamp at the minimum cost without impairing its etticient action. A lamp embodying my inventionis provided with reflecting surfaces of such `form as will throw thelight rays laterally of the direction of movement of the automobile, and at the same time so mask orA cover the lighting element or member as to make impossible one approaching the auelement. In what I consider now the most satisfactory embodiment of my inventionml provide two reflectors side by side each with' a substantiallyl semi-circularl portion concentric with which 'the lightin element is placed and a tangentially exten ing portion, the two tangentially extending port1ons being side by sidein a horizontal direction and extending obliquely in opposite directions which is longitudinally of the automobile or in the directlon of travel thereof, these tangentially extending portions serving to refleet the li ht rays laterally and thereby illuminate t e roadway atieach side of the automobile. The reflecting surfaces preferably extend straight vertically, each reflector being formed of a flat strip bent into the shape just described. The reilectors and the lamp for each, preferably constitute a unit car u on which they may be mounted and a switch) arrangement employed by which the headlight may be cut out of circuit and, simultaneously the supplemental device cut into circuit and vice versa. l

Myv invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of 'the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is' a top plan view of the front vportion, of two approaching' automobiles, each equipped with an illuminating device embodying my invention with the latter shown in horizontal section;

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the automobiles;

tomobile from vin front seeing such lighting in addition to the ordinary headlight of the 19,'1925. Serial No. 57,309.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of' 4these light-giving members there is a reflector, 12, the two reflectors being placed side by side within the casing and of similar formation in that each comprises a. substantially semi-circular end portion that extends concentrically around the lighting member, and a1 tangential portion that in the case of the forward lighting member extends obliquely rearward and outward, and in the case of the rear lighting member extends obliquely outward and forward, so that the reflecting surface in the case of the forward lighting member directs the rays of light to the left and rear of the automobile on the left side thereof, and in the case ofthe rear lighting member directs the rays of light to the right and forward. Inasmuch as the'oblique reflectingl surfaces'are turned llaterally and the lighting members are completely masked on the front side, it will be seen that to one in front. of the automobile neitherl the ligl'lting member or lamp, nor any reilect.

ing surface is visible, and yet the roadway and other obiccts at both sides of the automobile are illuminated withall desired brilliancy. By reference to Fig. 1 which shows two automobiles approaching one another, it will be seen that each automobile by its lamp illuminates wholly by reflected light the` roadway at the right and forward and the roadway at the left and rearward, and thus,

by the two approaching cars the entire roadway is completely illuminated.

The obli uely extending tangentialA portion of each reflector may be straight or a parabola or other curve, it being only essential that the form and direction of the reflecting surfaces be such that the lamp or lighting members shall be completely masked to one directly in front, and that one directly in front shall not see any reflecting surface or any substantial part thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the casing, 10, is supported by its own arm or bracket, 13, from some part of the automobile chassis and conveniently above the customary head lamp, 14, and preferably a i switch arrangement, 16, is used by which when the head lamp light is cut olf the lighting members of my lamp will be cut in circuit and vice versa.

The opposite sides of the casing are closed by glass plates, 15, which may be plain glass or otherwise.

It will be understood that if desired a: single lamp structure may be employed that will house the customary headlight and my supplemental lighting device or the two may be made and sold as separate units, and separately installed. As to such matter as these, it is to be understood that I do not restrict the scope of my protection.

It will be understood that the entire surface of therel'lector, 12, including both the Jortion concentric with the lighting memher and the tangential obliquely extending portion is a light-reflecting surface so that rays of light passing from t-he lighting element or member which reach such surface are directed upon the roadway with the rays that are free from obstruction to directv transmission from the lighting member to the roadway. Thus by direct transmission and reflection the light emitted by the lighting element or member is transmitted tothe roadway. By lighting element or lighting member, I mean one or any number of lamps.

obliquely exten ing portion extending rearward and the other obliquely extending portion extending forward, both light emitting members being masked by its reector to one directly ahead of the automobile, and all reflecting surfaces of i both reflectors being masked to one directly in front of the automobile.

2. An automobile lamp comprising two light-emitting members mounted at the `front of the automobile one in advance of the other land reflecting surfaces situated between the two lamps, one extending obliquely forward 

